Proper pruning is essential for maintaining the health, shape, and beauty of the trees and shrubs in your Gilbert yard. With our dry desert climate and intense summer heat, knowing the right techniques and timing for pruning can make a big difference. Here are some smart tips to help you prune like a pro and keep your landscape looking its best.
Understand Your Plants’ Pruning Needs
Before you make a single cut, it’s important to research the specific pruning requirements of the trees and shrubs in your yard. Many desert plants, like palo verde and mesquite trees, do best with light pruning in late spring or early summer after flowering. Others, like Texas sage, can be pruned more heavily to control size and shape.
Avoid over-pruning, which stresses plants and stimulates excess growth that’s vulnerable to heat and drought. As a general rule, remove no more than 25% of live foliage at a time. Maintain the natural shape of the plant rather than trying to force it into an artificial form.
Use Sharp, Clean Tools
Investing in high-quality pruning tools makes the job easier and helps prevent damage to your plants. Hand pruners, loppers, and pole saws should be sharpened regularly and wiped down with rubbing alcohol between plants to avoid spreading disease.
For larger branches, use a sharp pruning saw and cut just outside the branch collar – the swollen area where the branch meets the trunk. Avoid leaving stubs, which invite pests and decay. Clean, angled cuts promote quick healing.
Prune at the Right Time
In Gilbert, the best window for pruning most desert trees and shrubs is after the spring flowering period in late April to early May. This allows plants to put energy into new growth before the intense summer heat arrives.
Avoid pruning in late summer or early fall, as this stimulates tender new growth that’s easily damaged by cold winter temperatures. Light pruning to remove dead or damaged wood can be done year-round as needed.
Hire a Pro for Big Jobs
While basic pruning of small shrubs is a good DIY task, it’s best to call in a certified arborist for major work on mature trees. Proper pruning to remove large limbs, raise the canopy, or cable weak branches requires specialized skills and equipment.
Look for an arborist certified by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) who has experience with desert tree care. They can assess the health of your trees, identify potential hazards, and prune accordingly to extend the life of these valuable landscape assets.
